Are you pagan, vegan, Christian or some other form of belief?
By 2004cqui
@2004cqui (2812)
United States
March 19, 2012 10:33am CST
I believe there are people who can harness the positive powers of the earth. I also believe in God. I believe faith is much more important than religion. I just believe that it is all interconnected and I keep that in mind. I have a tough time putting any thought into man made ideas. I was raised Catholic and have seen first hand what happens when people have to much power and trust in another human being. "But he's a priest"! Ya, OK.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Leeper (79)
• South Africa
20 Mar 12
Great question and thoughtful take on it. I feel you. I agree too. I do not like labels, of any sort, as I feel that it simply divides us from each other. So, yes, I too was raised Catholic, but cancelled that subscription when I had to get confirmed - I never, as I did not believe in the religion itself.
However, I do believe in more. And yes, I call that 'more' God, but God for me is spread out all over the universe(s)...in and outside of every living and breathing being. I believe in that Energy that allows life on this earth. That lovingly allows a crucifixion, a resurrection and the ultimate ascension.
For me, this is real and no religion, sect or cult can do it justice. Simply loving and showing compassion will elevate us to that level that Christ came to remind us of.
No made made entity can contain the Greatness of the process of God/Energy/Life/Light/Love....so many names, but one LOVE.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
20 Mar 12
Don't ya just love people trying to tell you what to believe? The Catholic Religion ignores child abuse because they're looking for their parents money to keep the church going. I kept giving Catholicism a chance to redeem itself over and over, but when my son came back one time from Confession he said the priest would be doubtful that he told him everything he did wrong that week and asked him in a doubtful way " Are you sure that's all you did wrong? I told my son he didn't ever have to go back. Only 6 years before that a priest blamed me for my mother's bipolar condition and the abuse that came with it. "You better go back and apologize to your mother! She takes care of you, puts the roof over your head and feeds you". Slam goes the door. No way will I bring my children to a place where they will be abused like that!
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
20 Mar 12
Bob Hope said it best! When he was asked if he would mind putting on a show for a specific crowd who believe a certain way about faith in God, he said "I'll play to any house. When my time comes I'd hate to miss out on a technicality! Why would someone in their right mind ask you such a question? If they don't understand the difference, do they really understand their religion? Wow! I've got some houses around here that are under market value that need buyers! I could use some more decent neighbors!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
19 Mar 12
I am like you....I think believing and having faith is much more important then being in a structure they call church....and I have seen it too. Pastors etc that have attitudes like they are better then someone else.....do you recall hearing the being humble is part of being a Christian? That doing good and expecting nothing in return in the long run has its own rewards.....
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
19 Mar 12
There is a lot of problems with organized religion. On the other hand I understand why the different faiths got formed. Just one right off the top of my head is before communication, before the printing press it was impossible to join like minded people through communication. They actually had to physically go to one place to feel part of something. I can't blame them!
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
20 Mar 12
I would definitely have to say Christian. I too believe faith is more important than religion. But, I believe more important than faith is what, rather who you place your faith in. Jesus, who is God in human form, is the only one worth placing your faith in. Only Jesus, through our faith, and by His wonderful grace can give us eternal life. No other person, thing, or idea can give you eternal life no matter how strong your faith is.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
19 Mar 12
This is what I'm getting at! This is faith my friend, not religion. I also believe, at least for myself I don't have to walk down a street proclaiming what I believe to hopefully reach others. I once knew this person who invited 200 guests to his wedding only to "surprise" them, asking Gods help in getting everyone attending to join them in their belief! Then there were the two young men I met in the city. I was running after work to catch the bus that I needed to get to the day care on time to pick two of my children up so I wouldn't get charged a late fee I could not afford. These two young men wanted me to talk about what will happen to my soul after I die and what I think about it! I just said, "Honey, now is not the time". They looked at each other like they were completely off guard for that one"? People are surprised when they get in my car and they see a Crucifix! If they have questions I'll answer them but I don't shout about it to anyone.
@louienavalta (12)
• Philippines
19 Mar 12
Hi. I, too, am raised as a Catholic. Catholicism is dominant in the Philippines where I'm coming from. It has been a tradition in our family that we go to church together every Sunday to hear the mass. It was fine then; I would go to church every Sunday and listen to the priest as he preside the mass. But as I was growing older, it's not that I do not see the sense in going to church anymore, and it's not like I don't want to attend mass anymore. It's just that I noticed that a lot of priests incorporate their biases during mass. I'm not saying that using their own experiences to interpret the word of God is wrong. I mean interpretation is subjective, right? It is how you look at the word of God based on your OWN perspective and maybe using your own experiences just as the priest are doing when they do homilies and stuff. So I thought, why not interpret the word of God myself? Why do I need to listen to another person's interpretation, which in my case, as I go to church, I notice that their interpretations are stained with politics. It's not that I'm questioning the priests or anything, and it is not my intention to generalize. Anyway, now that I'm away from home because of college, I rarely go to church to listen to the priests' rumbling. But one thing for sure is that I keep my faith strong, and I keep my communication with God in a more direct way like praying.
